Spurs’ Silver Dancers Driven by World Car

The San Antonio Spurs. Perhaps nothing in the Alamo City unifies the locals together like our beloved NBA team, who won their fifth championship last summer as they throttled the Miami Heat with a 4-1 NBA Finals series win.

But beyond the glitz and glamour of the Spurs championship pedigree over the years, are people who work just as hard behind the scenes. And front and center of that hard work are the Spurs Silver Dancers, who are sponsored by World Car.

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Their ability get the crowd to cheer and yell as loud as they possibly can has given the Spurs one of the best home court advantages in league. Their knack to galvanize people doesn’t stop on game day, as these young ladies are prominent pillars of hope for the youth of our society.

Dance, Dance, Dance

Dancer Taylor, from San Antonio, was one of six dancers who recently participated in a photo shoot featuring a 2015 KIA Soul and 2015 KIA Optima.

Taylor said she has been dancing since she was in high school and was proud to be member of the Spurs dance team.

“I like it,” she said. “It’s always fun to do charity events, visit group homes, and of course watch the Spurs play and get the crowd going.

“This season, the game that really stands out for me was the first game,” she added. “It was against the Mavericks and of course we had the ring ceremony. It was just such a festive atmosphere and a joy to be a part of.”

photo 9 300×219 Spurs Silver Dancers Driven by World Car Paige, from Austin, added that she has been dancing for 12 years and felt a strong sense of fulfillment when she became a member of the Silver Dancers.

“It’s a really good feeling,” she explained. “It’s a passion that you’ve fallowed your whole life and it has paid off into becoming a professional dancer. You’re out there doing what you love to do, which is dancing and performing.”

Jaclyn, from Kyle, said she was attending UTSA when she found out about an open audition and jumped at the chance to try out.

“It was a long time coming,” she said. “Dancing is a sport onto itself, a definite cardio workout. We’re really a big deal. When we visit kids they think we’re like superheroes and they want to take pictures with us and it’s a great feeling to be a positive role model in the community.”

Jaclyn said that she enjoys meeting new people at different events and being a Silver Dancer allowed her to visit Berlin, Germany and Istanbul, Turkey this preseason when the Spurs participated in the NBA’s global game series.

“It was great,” she added. “We were on a plane with Coach Pop and all the players and collectively (as dancers) we got to do some sight-seeing. There is never a dull moment being a part of the Spurs.”

Doug Hester, Partnership Activation Coordinator for Spurs Sports and Entertainment, said working with the Spurs organization was a dream come true and that he thoroughly enjoys his job, which includes working with organizations like World Car.

“I activate and full fill partnerships with sponsors,” he said. “I enjoy working with the Spurs as it lets me see the games from a different perspective. Sometimes, I do have encounters with the players. Matt Bonner is a really personable guy and so is Patty Mills.”

Hester recently purchased a Mazda3 from World Car and couldn’t be happier with his investment.

“It’s a good car,” he said. “I wanted a stick shift, a 4.0 cylinder car, and this one is sporty and fun. Best of all its economical.”

Katie Gibbons, coordinator for the Silver Dancers, said it was imperative for the group to not only give back to the community, but to support the sponsor that allows them to bring the Spurs’ crowd to life during time-outs on game day.

“When it comes to a partnership, where we’re presenting ourselves at events then (photo) shoots like this are fun to do,” she said. “World Car has been great and it’s fun to be a part of the partnership and give back to them.”

See more photos from the shoot here.

Jets Flight Crew Searches For A Few Good Cheerleaders

From CBSLocal.com

Do you have the wings to be part of the Jets flight crew?

The cheerleaders are set to star their ninth season, and they have been looking for a few talented girls. Kimberly Cantoni, a cheerleader with the group, talked with CBS2’s Andrea Grymes Saturday about prep classes for those who want to perform for 80,000 fans at MetLife Stadium.

“It takes a lot of dedication, hard work and focus,” Cantoni said. “I can tell you that these ladies right here – we are passionate about the game of football, and we are passionate about performing. That’s what the Jets are looking for.”

Cantoni said having dance and cheer experience is advantageous, but is not necessary to make the team.

Eight prep classes were to be held before the season. Two have already happened, while six remained as of Saturday, Cantoni said.

Prep classes were to be held this Saturday, March 28, and Saturday, April 4, at the Broadway Dance Center, on the third floor at 322 W. 45th St. The class was to be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. both days.

Prep classes will also be held at the New York Sports Club at 625 Merrick Ave. in East Meadow, Long Island on Monday, April 6, from 8 to 9:30 p.m.; and a the New York Sports Club at 230 W. 41st St. at the same time on Wednesday, April 1.

Classes will be held at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, at 1 Jets Dr. in Florham Park, New Jersey, on Thursday, April 2 and Thursday, April 9, from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Auditions kick off on April 11, followed by semi-finals the following day, and finals on April 23.

Friday Night With The Laker Girls

So I went to an L.A. D-Fenders game on Friday, something I haven’t done in a few years.  I was there with a friend, who always tries to catch a game at the Toyota Center every time he’s in town during the season.  Why?  Because the D-Fenders’ dance team are the Laker Girls.  And it is a rare treat when you can see the Laker Girls up close and personal.

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See more Laker Girl photos at my personal website, thehottestdanceteam.wordpress.com.

Mrs. McLean Runs for Mrs. Virginia

Mary Carolyn Becker campaigns against texting while driving, promotes STEM.

By Valerie Lapointe
The Connection

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Lifelong Mclean resident Mary Carolyn Becker wears many hats, and soon she hopes to add a crown. Becker, mother of six, University of Maryland Ph.D. candidate, current Mrs. McLean, and commercial space industry statistician, hopes to become the next Mrs. Virginia on March 28 during the 27th annual Mrs. Virginia beauty pageant.

#Becker and her husband were married in 2012 and have a blended family with six children, most of them in their teenage years. She got her start as a Washington Redskins Cheerleader during the 1995 season. After just one season she decided to pursue a career in mathematics, obtaining her bachelor’s degree from James Madison University, her master’s at Marymount University, and is currently a statistics Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maryland. In addition to working as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, she spent many years as a statistician in the commercial spaceflight industry.

#“I was working with my personal trainer one day when he suggested I get into pageants,” said Becker, “and it has been a great motivator for me to stay healthy and stay in shape.”

#Her pageant platform is a message that has become prevalent across all forms of media; “Don’t text and drive.” As the mother of six teenagers, four of driving age, it is a cause that hits close to home.

#“It’s important for me to model the right behavior for my children,” stated Becker, “and to remind people that texting can always wait.”

#According to textfreedriving.org you are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car accident if you use your phone while driving. As a result 41 states have laws banning texting and driving, but last year 13 percent of drivers age 18-20 involved in car wrecks admitted to texting on their phones at the time of the crash.

#Another important tenant of Becker’s pageant platform is her dedication to encouraging girls to enter into STEM careers. Becker is currently a member of Science Cheerleaders, a group of current and former professional cheerleaders pursuing science careers and playfully challenging stereotypes.

#“The Science Cheerleaders are a great culmination of everything I have done in my life,” mused Becker, “I want to encourage all women who are interested to get involved in math and science, I think often it’s a self esteem issue more than anything, and women are usually better than they think they are.”

#If Becker claims the Mrs. Virginia title on March 28 she will advance to the Mrs. American pageant to compete with other married contestants from across the country.

Register Today for The Barefoot Dancers 2015 Auditions

2015 Audition Flyer-1

Register Today for the 2015 Bearfoot Dancers Auditions!
Registration begins at 10:30am
Auditions to follow at 11am

In order to audition you must:
– Be at least 18 years of age or older
– Be available to attend all practices
– Be available to attend all games and events

On the day of Auditions:
– Please bring headshot and dance resume
– Please bring proof of age
– Come with hair and make-up performance ready
– Wear appropriate dance attire and shoes
– Bring water, a sweat towel, and a light snack to keep you energized!
– Be prepared to learn dance routines (you do not need to prepare one)
– No friends or family will be allowed to observe auditions
– There is NO audition fee!!

[BearfootDancers.com]